Drive Safely!

Y'all it is one beautiful morning! This morning I wanted to reenact that scene from Oklahoma,  you know Gordon MacRae on a horse singing to the corn stalks!

I love to hear him sing.  I would make any excuse to stick a video in of him singing.  They don't make musicals like that anymore.  Anyway, it is a beautiful day, and like many of you I have a bit of a commute to work.  This morning, I attached my IPod to the car, put it on the worship playlist I created, and started on my way to work.  This is both an invigorating and dangerous way for me to drive to work.

There is really no better place to hang out with God than in your car.  For many of you, it may be the only time in your day you can truly be alone with God.  Now the truth of the matter is, you aren't really alone.  In fact, many of us share the road with hundreds of people everyday.  All of them aware of your morning antics via the windows of your vehicle.  However, I don't know about you, but it has never deterred me from having church, and I mean holy ghost, shouting, singing, preaching out loud church right there in my vehicle.  And, I have no inhibitions when it comes to this morning time ritual of mine. 

Take this morning for example.  I was worshiping along with Group 1 Crew and Chris August to "He Said" at the top of my lungs. When I look over and realize that the man in the truck next to me is going to pass the car in front of him without taking notice that I existed.  This could have been a tragic event in my morning, but I hit the brakes, honked my horn slightly, and kept singing.  I recognized his attempt to wreck my pretty navy blue car, but I didn't let it upset me or even slow me down.   I just kept praising God! 

There are things that happen in life that often try to derail us from our path.  Tragedy strikes around us all the time.  The question is, how are you going to choose to react to those moments that try to distract you from your desired destination?  Perhaps I should share the lyrics I was singing when this incident happened this morning.

"You may be knocked down now
but just believe what He said, He said
I won't give you more, more then you can take
and I might let you bend, but I won't let you break
and No-o-o-o-o, I'll never ever let you go-o-o-o-o
Don't you forget what He said
Don't fear when you go through the fire
Hang on when it's down to the wire
Stand tall and remember what He said"

No matter what tries to distract you in life, keep holding on to the Lord and trust that he is there to care for you.  And for added insurance make sure you pray.  I say the same prayer every time I get in my vehicle.  "Lord, please protect me from others on the road. And please Lord, protect others from me."  Especially in those times, when the holy ghost falls, I've got my hands raised, and tears are running down my face.  Yes, it happens!  I told you I have church.  I even have church in the car on the way to church.  I think of it as a warm up.  And no matter what happens in your life, remember these words....

James 5:13-16

           "Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.  And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." 

Say a little prayer and trust God to take care of you.  The Bible says in Matthew 6:27 "Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life ?"  So don't worry, and follow my not so safety conscious self and keep worshiping.  God's got this! 

Disclaimer:  Having church in the car can distract you, so make sure you do not allow yourself to become so distracted that you are unaware on the road.  I am a horrible example!  Do spend time worshiping God like crazy, but don't allow your worship to cause accidents on the road.  I can only imagine what my Uncle, who's a state policeman, would say to you if you used worship as an excuse for an accident.  So Drive Safe!

Miraculous Worship

Yesterday I had the privilege of teaching our Quake kids at church.  I love this group of 4th and 5th graders.  They are insanely funny and almost overly honest.  I never cease to be amazed by the things they say and the crazy things they do. 

This week I had a truly humbling experience with this group, and I thank God for it.  Though it is my job to teach them, these young people very often end up showing me the very heart of God.

Saturday night I was praying over my lesson and asking God to really direct me about worship.  God very gently led me in a new direction, and I quickly put together a new worship service.  I pulled some popular Christian music lyric videos offline and burned them to a DVD.  I was unsure how the kids would react to the change, but I knew it was from God.

Sunday morning one of the students came in not feeling too well.  She had a sore throat, and she was feeling very tired.  I am so thankful that despite that, she came to church.  Some of us adults could learn a thing or two from her.  We start to feel a little puny and our instant reaction is to go back to bed.  Well, I digress. 

We learned about Temptation in class.  I was very proud of the kids honesty, and we had some really great discussion.  We talked about the importance of resisting temptation without grumbling about it.  We can often have a bad attitude, even when we are doing the right thing.  We do it, but we aren't happy about it.  I shared two verses from Philippians 2.

"Do everything without grumbling or arguing,
so that you may become blameless and pure,
“children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”
Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky "  Philippians 2:14-15

They really liked the idea that they could shine like stars in the sky, and to be honest, so do I.  By doing the right thing with a good attitude, we show the World who God is.  They Bible says, over and over, that we are the light of the World, but how bright is that light?  We need to be positive and excited about doing the right thing, about standing apart from the World in what we say and do.  That excitement helps us shine all the brighter.  I don't know about you, but I would rather hang out with a happy excited person than a grumbly whiny one any old day.  Okay... I digress again.  It's one of those days!

After our lesson, we began worship.  We had traditionally let the kids stand anywhere they wanted and pretty much do whatever they felt.  This only bred disruptive and distracting behavior.  I asked the kids to all stand and remain in front of their  chairs.  I asked them all to worship with me and remember that this was our time to focus on God not the people around us. 

I was completely blown away!  Instead of chaos, the kids really sang and worshiped.  I could even hear them over the DVD!  You have no idea what a miracle this was...a total breakthrough for this group.  When it came to the more serious songs, they were raising their hands and really focusing in on God.  I was overwhelmed and so grateful. 

At the end of class, the young lady who was sick came over to me with a smile on her face.  She explained to me that as she was worshiping God she began to feel better.  The more she worshiped the better she felt.  When we were done, her sore throat was healed, and she was ready to kick my butt at Frogger (video game)!  HOW AWESOME!  It was such a powerful reminder of what the Word of God says in Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."  God was there with us, and he was doing an awesome work in each of us. 

It is very often too easy to dismiss the very power of just spending some time in the presence of God.  My students won't forget for awhile the awesome power of our worship and neither will I. 

I love to teach young people, and I love to share in their lessons from a holy God. 

 

 

Come to Jesus

Yesterday I had one of those God moments that came out of nowhere.  I currently work in a real estate office, and I was at the fall convention.  As I sat listening to the keynote speaker, I felt as though God had out a bull horn speaking so clearly that there was no way I could mistake it. 

My best friend, Paula has made comment many times that perhaps someone might need a little "Come to Jesus, either by death or repentance."  Yesterday, that person was me.  I needed to come to Jesus, and it was by no accident that the speaker for this conference decided to talk about faith.  Not faith in God.  I have never really struggled with my faith in a mighty, holy, God.  My problem is faith in myself.

The most successful people in the World believe in their abilities.  They are sure of themselves and believe they can accomplish every big audacious goal.  Though I have fleeting moments of confidence, I struggle with this kind of faith.  I readily believe God can do anything.  I can easily believe that those around me can do anything.  However, I struggle to believe in myself, my abilities, and my calling.  Truth be told, I have some good reason to question myself.  If others were to look at my goals and then look at my life, they would probably be a bit confused. 

God called me into ministry when I was 11 years old, and I have always been involved in some form of ministry.  However, since my graduation from Bible College, I have only once been hired to be a full-time paid youth pastor.  I have held volunteer positions in other areas including my passion which is children's ministry, but never officially made part of the staff.  Though I don't fully understand why, I have struggled with my confidence because of it.

But success to me is not measured financially, it is measured in the lives that you touch each and every day.  I have had hundreds of opportunities to share Jesus with others.  I have walked along side some amazing young people who needed to believe not only in God's love for them, but in God's awesome plan for their life.  I have held up the arms of ministers who were serving others.  I need to start believing in myself and trust in the God who has called me.  He has a plan for me.  Now I need to have faith in myself. 

I posted this on facebook after my conference yesterday, "If God leads you to do something, then don't back down because you lack confidence in yourself. Keep moving forward, because "when God is in it...there is no limit!" ‪#‎israelhoughton" God can speak anywhere, anytime.  Yesterday, I needed to hear His voice and I am so glad I did. 

It's Time to Play!

One of coolest parts of my week, is when I get the opportunity to work one on one with kids.  They are hilarious fun!  Last night, I was in with the One and Two year olds.  This class is always an adventure but loads of fun!  I tend to spend most of the night sitting in the center of the floor right in the middle of the kids.  To be perfectly honest, this is the most entertaining spot in the room and the most dangerous.  You never know when a toy will go flying, and for some unknown reason my big head is always in the way. 

Last night, I was watching the kids play when one of the two year old boys came over and planted himself on my lap.  Then, he pushed his head back as far as he could so that he could see my face.  To be honest, I wanted to laugh so hard, but I just smiled as big as I could at this little upside down face.  He smile back, and then laughed and laughed.  (I love my job!)  This little interaction took only seconds last night but has been stuck in my brain ever since. 

As I stared down at this sweet little face, I began to fully understand why God wants us to come to him like a child.  In that precious smile, there was complete faith and joy.  He had no fear or worry, but he fully believed that I was there to protect and love him.  I could not have found more joy in smiling back at this little boy and showing him that he could depend fully on me. One of my favorite teaching moments in the Bible, Jesus is teaching his own disciples.

Mark 10:13-16
"People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”  And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them."

My first thought as a Children's Pastor is "Yeah, You tell 'em Jesus!"(Sticking out my tongue as all good kids would)  However upon further inspection, I question my own faith.  Do I truly come to God like a child?  Children have no stress or worry weighing them down, creating doubt in their heart.  Children just believe with vast abandon.  They have no reason to question that God is able to handle every circumstance.  As adults, reason and experience seem to cloud our ability to love and believe just like a child.  Children do not live in fear. They look at the world through God's glasses.  As we grow older, we allow those clean glasses to be tainted by the horrors of the world around us. 
So I supposed the question becomes, is it possible to come to God like a child?

Yes...Absolutely, but not without a little prayer.  I always find that when I am faced with what seems to be an insurmountable quest, prayer is my first stop.  Asking God to give me the ability to remember the carefree days of childhood.  The days when our biggest decision was whether to ride bikes or go to the playground down the street, whether to make smores or have an epic chubby bunny competition, whether to go down the slide feet first or head first.  As we begin to remember how that feels, we can reprogram the filter we use when looking at the world.  We must hold on to what the Bible says in II Timothy 2:7(NASB) "For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline."  We were not made to fear.  We have been given power, love and discipline.  The Bible goes on to say in 

Romans 8:28-39

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who
have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." 

 

 I love this passage because it answers a lot of big questions.  "If God is for us, who can be against us?"  That is a good question.  What reason do we have to worry?  The God who created this world and everything in it, is taking care of me so why should I be worried.  And, even if something difficult should happen, I know that he loves me no matter what!  Hello!  Read the last few verses of this passage, God loves you so much and nothing is going to change that!  So, it is really up to you.  Can you let go and trust God as a child trusts their parent or in my case their teacher? 

 

I know that I live every day to trust God like that.  Am I always successful?  No!  However, when things get to be too much and I start doubting God, I know that it is time to go play.  You probably think I am an being metaphorical but no.  I really need to go play!  Just like a kid, I need to go sit on the swings or call up my best friend and talk about nothing in particular.  I need to cut and paste, creating something beautiful or grab a hair brush and sing a worship song at the top of my lungs.  I really need to play!  Sometimes play is good therapy when life seems to get overwhelming.  So give it a try.  It is time to act like a kid again, and remember what it feels like to believe with vast abandon.  It is time to lay on the grass stare up at the clouds and dream of what's up there.  God will handle every issue, but you need to stop and look up at God and allow him to smile down over you.  In that moment, you will remember that you are a child of the King and nothing else in this world matters.  So go out and play, believing that God will handle the rest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do Something!

Ok, so I have to confess that I have a music addiction!  I own more cd's than any one person in the World should.  I can't help myself.  Songs tend to articulate thoughts and feelings in a way that gets down into your heart and stirs your thoughts.  This morning my soundtrack happened to be

 Matthew West's "Into the Light" album. 

By the way if you don't have it, this cd is a must!  A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!

I love every song on this album, and it is not unusual to catch me singing along with it to the top of my lungs.  Trust me, ask some of my kids church kids.  They have caught me more than once singing and having church in my car.  It is the best because you feel like you are alone with God and for some reason whether people can see me or not in my car just does not matter.  It is one of my best Secret Places to get alone with God. 

 

This morning God chose to use the song "Do Something" to stir my heart and mind.  In fact, I can't stop thinking about it.  Here you have to listen to it.....

 



We look around at the World and get so frustrated by the politics, the crime, and the total loss of morals in our country.  We get angry that people in the World go hungry or homeless when there is plenty to go around.  We see lost and hurting people around us, and we look up and ask God why?  I hear the question all the time... why does God let bad things happen to good people?    My question to you is what are you doing about these things?  We have a voice, we have hands so what are we doing to help those around us?  What are we doing to love people who are hurting?  God created me, and he gave me the ability to reach out to others. 

 

God sent his one and only Son to die on the cross for us so I think He is completely within His rights to ask us to step up.  The Word says that we are to Imitate Christ...

Ephesians 5:1-2

"Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

 

So if we are to follow God's example, we have some work to do.  We do have the ability to make change in the World around us, but the first step is deciding to get up and "Do Something!" It can be anything.  Get involved with a local homeless shelter, offer to mow the lawn for the elderly lady down the street, volunteer in an after school program, vote in every election (preaching to myself there), smile and say "Hello" when you pass people on the street.  I could go on and on!  Get involved and make your voice heard.  We can't blame God for our own laziness.  It is time we.......

"DO SOMETHING!"

 

 

Two Greatest Commandments

I was recently hanging out with some awesome kids from my church, and we were discussing the two greatest commandments. 

Matthew 22:36-40
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”"

 

Obviously we should Love the Lord with all our heart, but how would the world be different if we all began to truly love our neighbor as ourselves?  I was quite tickled by the kids responses.  One little girl piped up and said, "We wouldn't need policeman anymore!"  One little boy said, "Wow, we wouldn't have school bully's anymore!"  It's so true that the act of loving each other could revolutionize our World.  However as adults we ask ourselves, is it even possible? 

 

When we look at the world around us, it is hard to see it free of anger and hate.  It is hard to imagine this World without senseless violence and crime.  The question is are we willing to try?  It all begins with one voice, with one heart working to make a difference in the World around us.  It could be as simple as a note in the mail to someone or a smile as you pass someone on the street.  We tend to be so self consumed that we can't see what is going on around us.  If we were just to take notice of the people around us we would start to see the world differently.  As our perspective changes we can begin to see the effect our presence has on those around us. 

 

Take this Valentines day to change the environment around you.  Give others a gentle smile, a small wave, and a better day.  Loving others will start small but as you see that love change others you will become more brave about loving the world around you.  Follow God's commandments and show others the love that God shows you each and every day.

"Learn Their Story"

One of the sweetest, most Godly women I have known in my life very often gives one powerful piece of advice, "learn their story."  We tend to make judgments about those around us before we take the time to learn their story.  Who are they and how did they get to this point in their life?  If you can't answer those questions then you have some work ahead of you. 

I was contemplating this yesterday in the midst of watching the movie, "Cloudy with the Chance of Meatballs 2."  I know, I know...You are wondering how I got there.  Well in this film, Flint Lockwood takes the word of someone else that the creatures on the island are dangerous without first checking it out himself.  I understand why he did that, because he had no reason not to believe his childhood hero. Watch Flint overreact to one of the creatures they come across on the island...
 

We too often tend to make judgments solely on the word of others, and to be honest we end up looking just as silly as Flint did in this segment.  We must learn to ignore the gossip of others and find out for ourselves.  The Bible is clear about judging others. 

Matthew 7:1-5

" “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye."

We are no better than anyone else.  We all have a story.  We all have things in our lives that we daily have to give to God.  I say it all the time..."I'm a Mess!... but I'm God's mess."  I know that God is helping me deal with my own issues.  I don't need to spend my time judging someone else's life.  That is between them and God. 

Take the time today to get to know someone around you.  Perhaps you see them at work everyday, but you truly don't know their story.  Ask them about their life!  You may find out the people around you that you have passed judgments on, are no different than you.  I find all the time that it is truly a small world after all.  Very often I have more in common with people than I first postulate. 

The biggest step in loving God's people as we are commanded is to Learn their Story! 

Now sing with me...."Getting to know You..."